Festival organizers emphasize that the Odesa International Film Festival 2014 will be held for sure.

“Nowadays we have been often asked, whether the 5th edition of Odesa International Film Festival will be held. Yes, it will be, and we will do everything possible for it to happen. This year it is scheduled for July 11-19. Odesa IFF will take place not only because it has outgrown the level of national event and found its place in the international cinema calendar. But also while grieving for the deceased, we should think about the future.

Sarajevo IFF was founded in 1995 during the Bosnian war. It provided workplaces, became a distraction for people and a launching platform for the professional film community as well as played the crucial role in the development of the film industry in the country. Odesa IFF has proven to be an effective platform for dialogue between different culture and for the development of Ukrainian cinema. During these four years the festival was attended by over three thousand professionals from 40 countries, 300 000 people watched more than 400 films. About 70 thousand people watched our movies at the free open-air screenings. There were thousands of publications in Ukrainian and foreign media. OIFF is known and loved, professionals willingly come here every year and authors gladly send their films.

The works of our participants ― Oleg Sentsov, Danila Kozlovsky, Jack Reynor, Volodymyr Tykhyy ― attracted the attention of international producers, agents and selectors of international film festivals. The chain reaction that followed the festival іs that movies are being filmed in Odesa, for instance, those of Nana Jorjadze and Nikita Mikhalkov.

Odesa Film Festival is primarily audience-oriented festival. Our audience is young and active people, thoughtful and caring. Many of them rose up to defend their rights at Maidan. We form our program for them and focus on the «other» cinema. The festival has always offered its viewers the most relevant content, so in 2014 the lineup will include films about the role of civil society in Ukraine and in the world.

Now about the OIFF budget ― government cash accounts for only 15 percent of it. All the money we collect from sponsors we invest into the development of the festival, which was and remains unprofitable. An important point: remaining an unprofitable event, festival directly and indirectly adds to Odesa region budget as well as to the budget of Ukraine through new workplaces, taxes, a huge amount of filmtourists, improvements of infrastructure, filming in the city, etc.

2014 is going to be a difficult year, so the festival is to run without any unnecessary glitz. All the efforts will be focused on maintaining the festival's international level and selecting a top-quality lineup.

The festival has a clear and distinct conception, its face and a strong team. The team, which empathizes in these difficult days to everything that happens in the country. The festival will take place for sure. The whole team of the festival will do everything we can. We sincerely lot upon your understanding and support,” press service noted.